diff --git a/src/conf.py b/src/conf.py
index 1e620e858..b00b495c4 100644
--- a/src/conf.py
+++ b/src/conf.py
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ registerChannelValue(supybot.protocols.irc, 'banmask',
     default banmask style."""))
 
 registerGlobalValue(supybot.protocols.irc, 'strictRfc',
-    registry.Boolean(False, """Determines whether the bot will strictly follow
+    registry.Boolean(True, """Determines whether the bot will strictly follow
     the RFC; currently this only affects what strings are considered to be
     nicks. If you're using a server or a network that requires you to message
     a nick such as services@this.network.server then you you should set this to